CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 293 



varying from 3 to 7 inches ; 4 or 5 inches, however, pro- 

 vides sufficient space for the development of most varie- 

 ties. 



Carrot seeds germinate slowly, and it is an advantage 

 to sow enough radish seeds with the carrot to mark the 

 rows. Tillage operations may then begin sooner, in order 

 to conserve moisture and control weeds. The seed should 

 not be covered deeper than necessary to furnish the 

 proper supply of moisture ; ordinarily y 2 to I inch of soil 

 is sufficient. 



376. Fertilizing. The carrot, like other root crops, re- 

 quires a liberal amount of potash. According to Voor- 

 hees, a yield of 15 tons an acre will remove 153 pounds 

 of potash, 48 pounds of nitrogen and 27 pounds of phos- 

 phoric acid. These figures indicate the importance of 

 using a high-grade fertilizer. It is likely that a mixture 

 carrying 4 per cent of nitrogen, 6 per cent of phosphoric 

 acid and 10 or 12 per cent of potash will give the best 

 results under most conditions. 



Fresh stable manure should never be applied imme- 

 diately before planting carrots. Rotten manures of any 

 kind may always be used to advantage, and may be ap- 

 plied in liberal amounts. 



377. Cultivation should begin as soon as the rows c^ 

 be seen and repeated at frequent intervals. The knife 

 or wing-form of attachments to wheel hoes should be 

 used at first, to avoid covering the delicate plants. Later, 

 spike-toothed tools may be "employed, to secure a deeper 

 mulch of loose soil. More or less hand weeding and 

 hoeing is necessary to destroy weeds in the row. 



378. Marketing. It frequently pays to pull and mar- 

 ket early carrots before they have reached maturity. 

 This may be a thinning process, by which the remain- 

 ing plants may be given more room to develop. When 

 the entire crop is removed at one time, and the roots 

 are long, a plow may be run close to the row with cut 



